Sensex ends 48 pts lower in choppy trade

Mumbai, Apr 30: In highly volatile trade, the BSE benchmark Sensex on Wednesday surrendered over 214-point gain to close 48 points lower at two-week low of 22,417 on fag-end profit-booking, mainly in realty, power and metal sectors.

It is for the fourth successive day markets are closing in the negative terrain.

Brokers said a slew of factors such as weak global cues, anticipation of election results, prediction of below normal monsoon resulted in intense profit-booking in the fag-end.

Investors are also keenly awaiting the decision in US Federal Reserve’s ongoing two-day monetary policy meeting.

The BSE Sensex opened better and surged 214 points to 22,680.46 on sustained capital inflows.

However, profit-booking emerged towards end of trading and the index shed all its gains to settle at 22,417.80, a loss of 48.39 points or 0.22 per cent from its previous close.

The last time the the Sensex closed at this level was on April 16, 2014.

The 50-share Nifty of NSE also moved down by 18.85 points or 0.28 per cent to finish at 6,696.40.

Jignesh Chaudhary, Head Of Research, Veracity Broking Services, said: “Equity markets opened positive followed by the rupee appreciation. Asian markets were trading firm in the morning … As the day progressed indices lost all its gain and closed weak. Investors traded watchful before the US Fed’s policy meet outcome later in the day.”

Rising for the second day, the rupee closed 11 paise higher against dollar at 60.31. The local currency had gained 23 paise Tuesday.

Among the Sensex pack, 18 stocks closed in the red while others finished in the green.